Transat Paprec Day 17 - "An Atlantic Crossing with the Intensity of La Solitaire"
by Transat Paprec 6 May 10:58 PDT
6 May 2025
Transat Paprec - Day 17 © Romain Marie
Lola Billy and Corentin Horeau (Région Bretagne - CMB Océane): "An Atlantic Crossing with the Intensity of La Solitaire"
They've proven that persistence pays off—even when faced with serious setbacks. Lola Billy and Corentin Horeau had to make a pit stop in Lisbon during the first week of the race to replace a damaged rudder. Later on, they had to patch together a spinnaker from two torn ones. And now, here they are, battling at the edge of the top 10 and—like all the others—still dreaming of a strong finish. On Tuesday morning, before the final push to the finish line, Lola took a moment to reflect on their journey. Her sentences are short, her pace fast, and her answers sharp. Occasionally, she calls out to "Coco," whose voice can be heard faintly from the helm. There's no time for analysis or soul-searching—it's all about the fight. Lola and Corentin aren't holding anything back, fully aware that at the finish line, the miles they've clawed back will speak louder than any words.
Race update
- The leading quartet—furthest north in the fleet—continues to dominate: Wings of the Ocean (1st), Cap St Barth (2nd), Les Étoiles Filantes (3rd), and Skipper Macif (4th)
- Roughly 130 nautical miles (240 km) separate the bulk of the fleet laterally
- The fastest boats are currently at the back, allowing trailing teams to keep closing the gap
- Based on current models, the leaders could cross the finish line on Thursday evening, May 8 or Friday morning, May 9 (local time)
Since your stopover in Lisbon, you've been pushing hard to come back. How did it feel from the inside?
"It was really tough breaking (the starboard rudder) just before Lisbon. But we managed to fix it quickly. So we were super pumped to get back out there, to rejoin the race. Of course, it hasn't been easy—it's been super intense. It's physical, tough, everything is wet... In a way, we've pushed ourselves to the limit."
"In awe of the overall level of competition"
How do you explain your comeback?
"The weather helped, for sure. But like Corentin says, we've been racing this transatlantic leg at the pace of a Solitaire du Figaro. I think he really showed me what kind of physical commitment that race demands! And at the same time, we know we can't burn ourselves out. 'Coco' is used to this, but for me, it's hard. I had a bit of a slump, fell out of rhythm for a while. But now, it's game on again!"
What's ahead of you between now and the finish?
"We didn't want to take the long way—we've tried to stay as close as possible to the direct route. With all these large windless zones, it's hard to know where the wind will come from. The models disagree, and things have been changing a lot over the last two or three days."
What do you think of those who took the northern route?
"We're definitely in awe of the overall level of play. And it's impressive how fast they've been charging ahead! The ones up front were kind of forced to take a more northern path. But now, the game is wide open!"
In your opinion, who's going to win?
"We are! At least, we'll do everything we can to stay focused right to the end and push for the win."
The race should finish in the next three days. What do you miss most about land?
"A shower and a good bed!"
Video recap of the last few days of racing: